Campbell v. State

125 S.W.3d 1, 2002 WL 534131
Court of Appeals of Texas·Decided April 12, 2004·No. 14-01-00741-CV, 14-01-00746-CV·Published·Cited by 40 cases

Opinions

MAJORITY OPINION

EVA M. GUZMAN, Justice.

Nathan Dale Campbell appeals from a court order in a civil proceeding extending his involuntary commitment for inpatient mental health services for another year. In five issues, he contends: (1) the evidence is legally insufficient to support the verdict; (2) the trial court erred in overruling his objections to the jury charge; and (3) the court erred in denying his motion for a continuance. In a cross-issue, the State argues that no rational jury could have failed to find Campbell was likely to cause serious harm to others. We reverse and remand for a new trial.

I. Background

On July 16, 1996, Campbell attacked his girlfriend with a knife causing severe injury to her face and eyesight. He was arrested and charged with aggravated kidnapping and aggravated assault. After several doctors examined Campbell and concluded he was insane at the time of the assault, the trial court found him not guilty by reason of insanity. Because the court also found Campbell had inflicted serious bodily injury on another person, he was automatically committed to a State mental health facility under article 46.03 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure. See TexCode CRIM. PROC. Ann. art. 46.03 (Vernon 1979 & Supp.2002). Pursuant to statutory authority, the court has annually reviewed Campbell’s case and renewed the order for extended inpatient mental health services. See Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 574.066 (Vernon 1992). These proceedings are civil, not criminal in nature. In re GBR, 953 S.W.2d 391, 395 (Tex.App.-El Paso 1997, no writ). This is the third time Campbell has appealed his recommitment. See Campbell v. State, 68 S.W.3d 747 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.], 2001, pet. granted, 2002); Campbell v. State, Nos. 14-99-00620-CV, 14-99-00621-CV, 2000 WL 675142 (Tex.App.-Houston [14th Dist.] May 25, 2000, pet. denied) (not designated for publication).

In the present action, the jury found Campbell mentally ill and that his condition was expected to continue for more than ninety days. The jury further found that, if not treated, Campbell would continue to suffer severe and abnormal mental, emotional, or physical distress, as well as a deterioration of his ability to function independently. They also found he was unable to make a rational decision regarding treatment. However, the jury refused to find that Campbell was likely to cause serious harm to himself or others. Based on the jury’s findings, the trial court ordered Campbell involuntarily committed for another year.

II. Legal Sufficiency

A. Standard of Review

Campbell contends the evidence is legally insufficient to support the verdict. He makes no specific claims as to perceived deficiencies in the State’s evidence, so we will undertake a general examination of the sufficiency of the evidence.1 In [5] reviewing a no evidence complaint concerning a mental health commitment, we must review the evidence favorable to the court’s judgment to see if there is more than a scintilla of evidence to support the commitment. See Johnstone v. State, 961 S.W.2d 385, 388 (Tex.App.-Houston [1st Dist.] 1997, no writ). We consider only the evidence and inferences tending to support the fact finding, and we disregard all contrary evidence and inferences. See Leitch v. Hornsby, 935 S.W.2d 114, 118 (Tex. 1996). If more than a scintilla of evidence supports the finding, then the no evidence challenge fails. See Niswanger v. State, 875 S.W.2d 796, 798 (Tex.App.-Waco 1994, no writ) (citing Browning-Ferris, Inc. v. Reyna,, 865 S.W.2d 925, 928 (Tex.1993)).2

A court may not renew an order for inpatient mental health services unless it finds the patient meets the criteria prescribed in section 574.035(a) of the Texas Health and Safety Code. See Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 574.066(f) (Vernon 1992). Under section 574.035(a), the court may order inpatient mental health services only if the trier of fact finds, from clear and convincing evidence, that:

(1) the proposed patient is mentally ill; and
(2) as a result of that mental illness the proposed patient:
(A) is likely to cause serious harm to himself;
(B) is likely to cause serious harm to others; or
(C)is:
(i) suffering severe and abnormal mental, emotional, or physical distress;
(ii) experiencing substantial mental or physical deterioration of the proposed patient’s ability to function independently, which is exhibited by the proposed patient’s inability, except for reasons of indigence, to provide for the proposed patient’s basic needs, including food, clothing, health, or safety; and
(iii) unable to make a rational and informed decision as to whether or not to submit to treatment;
(3) the proposed patient’s condition is expected to continue for more than 90 days; and
(4) the proposed patient has received court-ordered inpatient mental health services under this subtitle or under Section 5, Article 46.02, Code of Criminal Procedure, for at least 60 consecutive days during the preceding 12 months.

Tex. Health & Safety Code Ann. § 574.035(a) (Vernon Supp.2002). The proof must include expert testimony and, unless waived, evidence of a recent overt act or a continuing pattern of behavior that tends to confirm either (1) the likelihood of serious harm to the proposed patient or others, or (2) the proposed patient’s distress and the deterioration of his or her ability to function. Id. § 574.035(e).

[6] B. Analysis

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Campbell v. State, 125 S.W.3d 1, 2002 WL 534131 (Tex. Ct. App. 2004).

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